10 crit titles won on final day of 2012 Masters Road Nationals

Bend, Ore. (September 9, 2012) — The 2012 USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships concluded Sunday with criterium racing in the NorthWest Crossing area of Bend. The five-day competition, which saw nearly 900 riders compete for a coveted Stars-and-Stripes jersey, ended with the awarding of 10 national titles. In addition, one rider in each of those 10 age groups earned the Best All-Around Rider award, and a Best All-Around Team award was presented.

The day began in dramatic style when Kristine Johnson (Larkspur, Colo./DNA Cycling Race Team) won a photo finish in the women’s 60-64 criterium to earn her first national championship. Patricia Kimper (Solana Beach, Calif./ACQUA AL 2/SDBC/San Diego Bicycle Club) rode to the women’s 65-69 victory, while Julie Lockhart (Dunstable, Mass./Northeast Bicycle Club) added another Stars-and-Stripes to her collection after winning the women’s 70-74 crit.

In the combined men’s 70+ race, Michael Patterson (Old Lyme, Conn.) proved the fastest in a close contest among the men’s 70-74 age group. Frederic Schmid (Waco, Texas) rode to a national title in the 75-79 criterium, and Albert Piemme (Sequim, Wash.) was able to hold off a strong effort by Paul Tetrick (Evergreen, Colo.) to win the 80-84 race.

In an usually lengthy race that was neutralized three times, John Elgart (Sacramento, Calif./Webcor Alto Velo Racing Club) reaffirmed his criterium prowess by repeating as the men’s 65-69 national champion. Wayne Watson (Denver, Colo./Natural Grocers Cycling Team) rode at the front or off the front for much of the 60-64 race, eventually emerging out of a breakaway to take the win.

Wayne Watson rides to victory in the men's 60-64 criterium

Surging ahead out of a field sprint, Diane Ostenso (Cottage Grove, Wis./Trek Midwest Team) donned a Stars-and-Stripes jersey after winning the women’s 55-59 criterium. In the final race of the day, Tamara Bessette (Missoula, Mont./Northern Rockies Orthopaedic/Northern Rockies Cycling Team) moved up a step on the podium from her 2011 result, winning the 50-54 race by several bike lengths.

With the completion of competition in several age groups, Best All-Around Rider (BAR) awards were handed out during today’s podium ceremony. On the heels of their criterium wins, Julie Lockhart (women 70-74), Wayne Watson (men 60-64) and Albert Piemme (men 80-84) also took home BAR honors.

This Article Published September 9, 2012
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